Question: My son suffers from asthma, but he was recently sent in to hospital with a pneumothorax. Can you explain this?
Our lung is made up of millions of air bubbles that all connect together by means of fine air-filled tubes. The entire lung lies in a sack that has a smooth inner surface, allowing the lung tissue to slide over it as you breathe in and out.
If the lung develops a puncture (ie. one or more of the tiny air bubbles or tubes bursts) air will leak into the sack around the lung, and will be unable to escape. More and more air steadily accumulates in the sack, causing pressure on the lung, shortness of breath and pain. These punctures can occur for no apparent reason, or may be due to lung diseases such as asthma, which put an excessive stress on the lungs. Once diagnosed, urgent medical attention is required. A tube is placed through the chest wall to remove the escaped air, and this allows the lung to expand and refill the sack.
Pneumothorax resembles asthma in that the patient is short of breath, but asthmatics are not normally in pain.

Question: I am 78 years old and my doctor tells me I have emphysema. I would be much obliged if you could tell me what is available to ease this condition.
Emphysema is a degenerative disease of the lungs caused by smoking, recurrent lung infections, or the inhalation of toxic gases. Unfortunately, there is no cure for the condition, but there are many medications (most of which require prescriptions) and techniques that can be used to control the cough and shortness of breath that occur. The treatments available include:
• Medication to prevent any spasm of the air tubes (bronchi) in the lungs, and prevent the excess production of mucus. These are in the form of inhalers such as Flixotide, Becotide, Pulmicort and Aldecin.
• Bronchodilators that open up the airways to allow more air into the lungs. Examples include Ventolin, Respolin, Atrovent, Seretide, Oxis and Bricanyl. They can be taken using either an inhaler or a nebuliser.
• Tablets such as Theo-Dur and Nuelin that open up the airways, but often cause the heart to race as a side effect.
• A tablet or mixture called Bisolvon which liquefies the phlegm in the lungs so that it can clear away more easily.
• Antibiotics that are used to treat any infection at the earliest possible stage.
• Steroid tablets or injections which are used as a last resort to treat severe episodes, or prevent a recurrence if no other medication works.
• Physiotherapy, which is very important to assist in the clearance of excess mucus from the lungs.
By using combinations and permutations of the above treatments, most emphysema victims can lead useful and comfortable lives.